A new rhythm of life at the foot of Khau Pha Pass

After 14 years of organization, the Paragliding Festival at Khau Pha Pass (Tu Le commune) has become a distinctive tourism product associated with the terraced rice fields of Mu Cang Chai, and also an attractive event with a local "brand". From here, each new day for the people living at the foot of the pass begins not only with the sounds of hoes and knives clearing the fields, but also with the laughter and chatter of tourists from all over who come to experience the golden season, paragliding, and explore the culture of the highlands.

Nestled at the foot of Khau Pha Pass, Ta Sung village is "in" a picturesque and peaceful valley. Surrounding the village are sprawling rice fields and a crystal-clear stream that flows day and night over rocky banks, like a gentle melody of the mountains and forests.

In recent years, along with the development of the Paragliding Festival, every golden season or rainy season, Ta Sung becomes bustling with tourists as an ideal landing spot. Since then, the Thai people in the area, who were previously only familiar with growing rice and corn, have begun to learn how to develop tourism .

Mr. Lu Van Quyet is one of the households that boldly invested in renovating their old house to accommodate guests. All the livestock raised under the stilt house were moved away from the house. Mr. and Mrs. Quyet also used readily available local materials to decorate and plant more flowers and greenery around the house...

Mr. Quyet shared: "Previously, my family only did farming and livestock raising, and our lives were precarious, dependent on the seasons. Since more tourists came to the area, especially during each Paragliding Festival season, I thought I had to change or I would miss the opportunity to develop the economy . At first, I was very worried because I didn't know how to do tourism, but then I learned as I went along, and gradually I got used to it."

In 2020, the Quyet Doan homestay, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lu Van Quyet, opened with two wooden stilt houses, accommodating 30 people per night, and featuring traditional Thai architecture.

Despite only having completed the third grade and not being fluent in Vietnamese, Quyết always strives to learn and improve himself. Whenever a new group of guests arrives, he takes the opportunity to learn a few more conversational phrases, how to arrange rooms, maintain cleanliness, and provide more attentive service.

Since starting the homestay business, Mr. Quyet's family life has changed dramatically. Besides income from accommodation, the family also earns extra income from serving food, selling local agricultural products, and offering experiential activities for tourists. His children and relatives also have additional work during the tourist season.

"On average, during each tourist season, my family welcomes about 300 tourists per month; the minimum cost per tourist staying at the homestay is 150,000 VND/person/night, helping to generate a total annual income of over 150 million VND," Mr. Quyet further shared.

Thanks to tourism, the life of Mr. Luong Van Quan's family – the owner of Quan Pom homestay in Ta Sung village – has also changed significantly. From a shy, humble farmer who didn't dare believe he could do tourism, Mr. Quan can now cook a lavish meal for an entire group of tourists.

With his skillful hands, he also weaves bamboo baskets and carves small, beautiful wooden statues, both to decorate his house and to sell to tourists as souvenirs. His wife, Ms. Pom, has also become more confident and welcoming, sharing stories about her family and village with visitors. Besides preparing the house to welcome guests and serving meals at the homestay, Ms. Pom also participates in the village's performing arts group, performing traditional dances for tourists.

Mr. Luong Van Quan shared: "I'm a farmer, and when I first started doing tourism, I was shy and hesitant to interact with guests. But I gradually got used to it. I find joy in welcoming guests, and I miss them when they're not around. Thanks to family tourism, we not only have extra income but also learn a lot."

Not only Mr. Quyet and Mr. Quan, but many Thai and Hmong people in the villages of Ta Sung, Se Sang, Lim Thai… at the foot of Khau Pha pass also participate in the tourism service ecosystem with nearly 20 households doing business ranging from homestay accommodation to herbal baths and coffee sales.

Locals have also proactively developed tourism tours such as trekking around the village, participating in traditional farming , dyeing indigo fabric and weaving bamboo with the Thai people, or painting with beeswax with the Hmong people, creating additional experiences for tourists. Many young people also actively join motorbike taxi groups, guiding tourists on treks and taking photos.

Mr. Lo Van Kieu, from Lim Thai village, used to rely on a few acres of rice paddies and corn fields on the mountain for his income. Life was a constant struggle for survival. Since tourism developed, he and many young people in the village have joined a motorbike taxi group to transport tourists between the takeoff point on Khau Pha Pass and the landing area in the valley below. On peak days, Mr. Kieu can carry dozens of passengers, earning 70,000 - 80,000 VND per trip - a considerable income for the people here.

"This job is more enjoyable because I get to meet many people. Tourists from the lowlands come up to ask about the village and customs, and I tell them stories while I'm driving them," Mr. Kieu shared.

In addition, women and children in the community are guided and trained to continuously improve their skills, becoming local guides, always ready to accompany tourists on trekking and mountain climbing trips, visiting villages, or helping young tourists get acquainted with the lives of the local people in the "Brilliant Northwest - Khau Pha Cultural Journey" Summer Camp…

Developing paragliding as a tourism product has been identified by Tu Le commune as a suitable direction to increase income and create sustainable livelihoods for people living at the foot of Khau Pha pass. To support the people, the commune has actively organized training courses on tourism skills, welcoming tourists, and preparing traditional cuisine; focused on investing in transportation infrastructure, rest stops, and parking lots; and attracted investment to build high-quality tourist and resort areas that are still in harmony with the natural landscape.

Mr. Hoang Trong Nghia - Chairman of the People's Committee of Tu Le Commune.

As is customary, during each paragliding festival at Khau Pha, Hmong and Thai motorbike taxi drivers are busy transporting pilots and tourists from the landing site back to the top of Khau Pha pass; homestays are always fully booked; and local guides are busy accompanying tourists on their experiential journey… A new way of life is gradually emerging, full of vitality, opening up a prosperous and happy future for this rural area.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/nhip-song-moi-duoi-chan-deo-khau-pha-post900210.html